Help with high blood pressure at doctor's office?

[beachlover]

First things first. I have a totally irrational fear of getting my b/p taken because of a couple of high readings previously in my last pregnancy at 40 weeks. Ever since then I haven't been able to have a medical professional take my b/p and have it be normal.

I'm only 18 weeks pregnant and today at my prenatal my b/p was 175/95. But the thing is I took it at home yesterday several times in anticipation of my appointment today and it was always below 135/85 and usually more like 110-120/78-81.

I don't want to be forced into extra tests and monitoring because of this. My doctor is pretty cool and laid back and is willing to give it until next appointment to be better. I told him I'd keep a log, but I'm still not sure he's going to let me off if it's high in the office at next month's visit as obviously they have to cover themselves. He mentioned the 24 hour urine test, which I'm not really oppossed to, but then also extra u/s's which I am very opposed to which we of course know will lead to induction and I'm absolutely opposed to that, if the whole reason for all of this is my stupid inability to calm myself down.

What can I do? I definitely have white coat hypertension. Even 19 years ago when I gave birth to my first, it was really high while in the hospital just from nerves. It's always high in the hospital.

But today was the highest systolic pressure I've ever had. They moved offices to a new high tech facility with everything electronic including the blood pressure cuff. They used to let you sit for a minute while they checked your urine etc. but now it's all done differently and they don't even give you two seconds to sit down before they take the blood pressure.

But even yesterday at home, I walked up a flight of stairs got out my b/p machine plugged it in and sat down and took it without waiting and it was only 135/85. Two minutes later it was down to 120/80.

I don't know what to do, to make myself calm down enough to get it to an acceptable level, and of course now I'm going to be even more freaked next month because of today's reading.

Any suggestions, anything you can safely take that will relieve stress before the appointment. HELP???

[ZoeyZoo]

No relaxation advice... just :Hug.

My first question is...is there a reason why you need to see a doctor in the first place? Have you thought about a birth center or a home birth? I see a midwife who sees me in plain clothes and we do most of the prenatals in my home. It makes it much easier for me to relax. Especially with white coat anxiety it may be worth looking into to.

[bluepetals]

I don't think they can completely disregard your home log...maybe push that angle?

I had a couple of high readings at the end of my last pregnancy and they always got me to lie down for a few minutes and then re-took it. It sounds like you definitely have a case of white coat hypertension, so even after a rest it might still be elevated, but if you could at least show it coming down after a lie-down and couple that with home monitoring, it might help...

[beachlover]

Oh he's been my OB through alot and I really like him. I have a history of severe Post Partum Hemmorage so a homebirth is out, and we have no birth centers anywhere near us.

It's honestly not my OB. I honestly don't care for the nurse that much. She's not very friendly so I'm sure that doesn't help, but I really like my doctor. He let me go a week past my due date last time, even though my b/p had risen to the 160/100 range.

Thanks for the thoughts, I dream of a homebirth...lol, but it's just not in the cards for me.

[Friday13th]

Would it be better for you to do it after the appointment? I always find I'm most anxious at the beginning with the whole check in and rushing around and seeing a nurse I don't know stuff. I'm usually much calmer once I've talked to my midwife and had time to sit and relax.

[ZoeyZoo]

If it's the nurse that bothers you, could you talk to your OB about taking it instead?

[Amandamanda]

this happened to my friend..

if you are taking your bp regularly.. just take it twice a day. (morning and night) and chart it everyday.

when you go to your appointments, explain that you have white coat, bring your chart along, and explain that you have been monitoring it daily and really would rather avoid getting blood pressure checks at the office unless YOU notice a drastic change in your readings.

as long as you are checking it everyday, i see no porblem with why they wouldnt be okay with that.


hth mama. :)

[Barcino]

I would do as the previous poster says.... keep the log and talk to them.

If not I might try Rescue Remedy and it might help? I didnt know about it but I read about it here.... seems to help to bring the stress down and ladies here take it during pregnancy? I might give it a go if I had to.

[1Plus2]

I totally have white coat syndrome with my bp. Usually, it's something like 112/68 but is much higher then that in a doctor's office. My cure was deciding on a homebirth. Every midwife appointment my bp was perfect.

[3cuties]

Can you have them re-check your blood pressure at the end of the visit?

Have you ever tried self-hypnosis? My last pregnancy I did hypnobabies and I used the techniques taught in there to relax every time my BP was taken -- I typically have a high BP at the beginning of the visit but by the end of the visit it was low, so I always made them retake it.

[tinyshoes]

I'm a homebirthin' mama, but a month ago I was at a doctor's office...it wasn't my bp that was sky-high, it was my pulse: 108.

Push the bp at home angle--you'll be golden, esp. since you have a relationship w/ your OB already.

[butterfly_mommy]

I have white coat as well. When I have my blood pressure taken I insist that I can sit in a chair with my feet, back and arm supported. I do not talk to anyone and i do deep breathing exercises and close my eyes I envision a calm picture for me and that has helped a lot. I also test my BP at home and take my charts to appointments. One reading is not an accurate picture of anything.